Column by Jeroen Bleekemolen: Norris Fumbles Again

Reflections on the Mexican Grand Prix: Missed Opportunities for Lando Norris

Following each Grand Prix, driver Jeroen Bleekemolen shares his insights on the weekend’s events in an exclusive column for Formula1.com. He explores what caught his attention, what worked well, and what could be improved. This time, he highlights some critical aspects that many seemed to overlook in the intense battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

Lando Norris: An Unfulfilled Potential?

With the headline stating, “Lando Norris closes the gap on Max Verstappen by ten points,” it might seem at first glance that Norris had a remarkable racing weekend in Mexico. While it is undoubtedly a positive development for him in the title race, I find it troubling that this is overshadowed by some crucial shortcomings in his performance.

To elaborate, let’s examine the pace of Norris’s McLaren. During the latter part of the race, he caught up rapidly to the Ferraris, who indeed were performing remarkably well. This makes it evident how fast Norris’s car was. Norris himself acknowledged this by stating, “I had the fastest car of the weekend.” If that is true, then one must consider: should he not have been in a position to win? The failure to capture a victory suggests a missed opportunity for Norris to maximize his potential during the race weekend.

McLaren’s Consistent Struggles Despite Superior Equipment

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen McLaren with an edge in terms of car performance .comy to squander points. In stark contrast, Max Verstappen—who is not driving the most competitive car—manages to extract every ounce of performance from the RB20. Even finishing in positions like P2, P4, or P6, he consistently demonstrates his ability to maximize the output of his machine. Based on this, I believe Verstappen has every chance to excel in the championship race.

His sixth-place finish in Mexico was the best outcome he could achieve, particularly after the significant 20-second time penalty. It was a poignant reminder of the limitations in the Red Bull’s speed during the race, a realization that took me by surprise. Maximizing his performance under those circumstances is commendable. Without those penalties, perhaps a P4 finish was within reach. Ultimately, it was not Max’s fault that things panned out this way.

Navigating the Complex Rulebook

Speaking of his conduct, just like in Austin, Verstappen attempted to navigate the regulations wisely to gain an advantage. Unfortunately for him, this time, he was found on the wrong side of the rules, leading to two ten-second penalties—decisions that were justified. Opinions can vary on this, but the real issue lies in the regulations themselves. Nowadays, it’s all about “racing to the apex”; the driver who gets there first tends to be rewarded, which often misses the bigger picture.

My conclusion: we need fewer regulations and more genuine racing. The excitement is definitely back in the championship battle. Yet, I firmly maintain that Max will ultimately come out on top.